BIRMINGHAM City are edging ever closer to signing Moussa Dembele – but Mauro Camoranesi doesn’t appear to have a St Andrew’s future.

Belgium international striker Dembele’s club, AZ Alkmaar, have confirmed that there have been further negotiations.

And sources at Blues today indicated that whilst no deal has been done, and nor has Dembele had a medical, matters were primed to proceed.

Dembele, who would cost in the region of £5 million, has been continuing to weigh up his options, and Blues have been extremely patient.

Blues – like rivals for his signature – have had several rounds of talks about salary, and the bartering has been long and complex.

Albion and West Ham United remain the main competition but Blues are understood to be front-runners.

Last night, all Dembele would say was: “A second team from the Premier League has made contact (West Ham). I’ll make a decision in the following days. I don’t want the case to trail too long.”

As for World Cup winner Camoranesi, he has returned to Italy after meeting Alex McLeish and club officials.

He did not have a medical and the fact also that there has been no announcement from Blues at all points to McLeish having gone cool.

Throughout the manager has made it clear to all concerned that he would have to be sure of the 33-year-old’s form and fitness before giving the go-ahead to Peter Pannu, who handles contract negotiations.

It is no coincidence that the midfielder’s agent has done all the talking about the proposed free transfer from Juventus, who have also remained silent.

Camoranesi is said to earn around 2.5 million euros a year and to commit anywhere near that sum on him at his age could be a gamble that McLeish may not be comfortable with.

Another 33-year-old Eck and Blues are certain about is Stephen Carr, who has signed a new contract.

Carr has been given improved terms and a 12-month option has been added to his deal, which is due to expire in the summer.

Carr, who is back in training after a toe injury and should be fit to lead Blues into the Premier League season at Sunderland on Saturday.

And the right-back said that Blues would accept the challenge of following-up last season’s heroics in like manner.

“For me, it’s just about making sure I do my job,” he said.

“I’ve always been at an established top-flight club, so it’s something that comes naturally.

“For the likes of Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, they have proven they are Premier League players for a season and knowing the type of lads they are – and the lads we have here – they will want to go out and prove it again.

“So whether it’s someone like myself or Scott and Roger, it’s all about rising to the challenge.

“It’s important to keep our standards high, to keep playing with quality and to look to kick on.”

Carr said that it would be important Blues remained relatively injury-free. “That’s the key as we have one of the smallest squads.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a good pre-season in terms of results. It was disappointing not to stay unbeaten when we lost our last game, to Mallorca.

“But we coped well in China and we can go into the new campaign with a lot of confidence.”

On the injury front, due to Ben Foster’s back problem that caused him to withdraw from the England squad, Colin Doyle has been recalled from his loan to Coventry City.

Doyle only made his debut on Tuesday in the Carling Cup defeat by Morecambe but is needed as back-up to Maik Taylor should Foster not recover in time for the Stadium of Light.